Joel Porter
Encyclopedia
Joel William Porter is an Australia
n football (soccer)
player who plays as a striker for the Hyundai A-League team Gold Coast United. He had played for Hartlepool United
in Football League One
until the end the 2008/2009 season, leaving for Australia on a free transfer.
, West Adelaide
, Melbourne Knights
and Sydney Olympic. During his final season at Sydney Olympic Porter managed to score 6 goals in 19 starts, having played many of those matches as a midfielder.
in a bid to find a club. Porter almost signed for Rayo Vallecano
but the Spanish La Liga
club were unprepared to take a gamble by signing him after doubts arouse over his fitness. After previously having trials in England
with Wigan Athletic
and Sunderland
, before visa problems prevented them, Porter finally signed for Hartlepool.
Porter made his Hartlepool début against Swindon Town
and scored his first goal against Burton Albion
shortly afterwards during a live televised FA Cup
match. Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper decided to offer him an 18-month contract at the end of 2003. However Porter struggled to score in his first season and only notched up 5 goals in 31 appearances. Porter's fifth goal for the club was perhaps one of the most important as it earned Hartlepool a draw in the first leg of the play-off semi-final against Bristol City
.
During the following 2004/2005 season, Porter became a fan favourite and was a massive success. After a slow start he forced his way into the team after coming on as a substitute against Doncaster Rovers
and scoring two late goals. This earned him a place alongside Adam Boyd
in the Hartlepool line-up. He then went on to notch 14 goals in 37 appearances. Porter's performances earned him the Hartlepool United's Fans' Player of the Year award. His performances attracted the attention of a host of Australia
n clubs such as Perth Glory
and Wellington Phoenix FC
who wanted to see him return home to play in the newly formed A-League
. Porter was closely linked to sign with the Phoenix, however Hartlepool elected to invoke the team option to resign him for one more year.
In the 2005/06 season, Porter struggled with a long-term knee injury that lasted 10 months and prevented him from playing for the majority of the season. Porter returned to Hartlepool squad after 10 months injured and came on as a substitute against Huddersfield
, scoring after 6 minutes to mark his return. However, his return could not prevent Hartlepool from being relegated from Football League One
. He helped Hartlepool win promotion back to the Football League One
the following season and helped Pools survive in the third tier the following two seasons.
in the 2002 Oceania Cup
where he went on to make 4 appearances for the Socceroos, scoring 6 goals in the process and finished as his country's top scorer. Porter was gifted the chance to play in the tournament as Soccer Australia could not afford to fund for its bigger overseas stars to play.
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Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who plays as a striker for the Hyundai A-League team Gold Coast United. He had played for Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
in Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
until the end the 2008/2009 season, leaving for Australia on a free transfer.
Australia
Before joining Hartlepool United, Porter had previously played for Croydon KingsCroydon Kings
The Croydon Kings are a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. Croydon Kings play in the South Australian Super League. They play home games at Polonia Reserve at Croydon in the Adelaide's west. They are one of the most successful sides in South Australian football...
, West Adelaide
West Adelaide
West Adelaide may refer to:*A geographical region to the west of the Adelaide Central business district*West Adelaide SC, Reformed football club 1978 NSL Champions...
, Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights Football Club is a football club representing Melbourne, Australia in the Victorian Premier League . The club is one of the most successful football clubs in Australia, being a two-time championship and four-time premiership winner in the now defunct National Soccer League...
and Sydney Olympic. During his final season at Sydney Olympic Porter managed to score 6 goals in 19 starts, having played many of those matches as a midfielder.
Hartlepool United
Porter decided to look to EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in a bid to find a club. Porter almost signed for Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
but the Spanish La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
club were unprepared to take a gamble by signing him after doubts arouse over his fitness. After previously having trials in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, before visa problems prevented them, Porter finally signed for Hartlepool.
Porter made his Hartlepool début against Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
and scored his first goal against Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
shortly afterwards during a live televised FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
match. Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper decided to offer him an 18-month contract at the end of 2003. However Porter struggled to score in his first season and only notched up 5 goals in 31 appearances. Porter's fifth goal for the club was perhaps one of the most important as it earned Hartlepool a draw in the first leg of the play-off semi-final against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
.
During the following 2004/2005 season, Porter became a fan favourite and was a massive success. After a slow start he forced his way into the team after coming on as a substitute against Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
and scoring two late goals. This earned him a place alongside Adam Boyd
Adam Boyd
Adam Mark Boyd is an English footballer, who plays for Hartlepool United in the English Football League One. Boyd plays as a striker and started off playing in school while attending Grange Primary School, in his hometown of Hartlepool....
in the Hartlepool line-up. He then went on to notch 14 goals in 37 appearances. Porter's performances earned him the Hartlepool United's Fans' Player of the Year award. His performances attracted the attention of a host of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n clubs such as Perth Glory
Perth Glory FC
Perth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
and Wellington Phoenix FC
Wellington Phoenix FC
Wellington Phoenix Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wellington, New Zealand. The club competes in the Football Federation of Australia A-League. Ricki Herbert has been the coach since the club's inception to the A-League in July 2007. The current club captain is...
who wanted to see him return home to play in the newly formed A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
. Porter was closely linked to sign with the Phoenix, however Hartlepool elected to invoke the team option to resign him for one more year.
In the 2005/06 season, Porter struggled with a long-term knee injury that lasted 10 months and prevented him from playing for the majority of the season. Porter returned to Hartlepool squad after 10 months injured and came on as a substitute against Huddersfield
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, scoring after 6 minutes to mark his return. However, his return could not prevent Hartlepool from being relegated from Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
. He helped Hartlepool win promotion back to the Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
the following season and helped Pools survive in the third tier the following two seasons.
Gold Coast United
On 24 April 2009 Porter announced he was leaving Hartlepool United for Gold Coast United.International career
Porter also represented AustraliaAustralia national football (soccer) team
The Australia national association football team represents Australia in international association football competitions. Its official nickname is the "Socceroos"...
in the 2002 Oceania Cup
Oceania Cup
The Oceania Cup is an international men's and women's field hockey competition organised by Oceania Hockey Federation . It is held every two years to determine which teams will receive an automatic berth to the Hockey World Cup and Summer Olympic Games....
where he went on to make 4 appearances for the Socceroos, scoring 6 goals in the process and finished as his country's top scorer. Porter was gifted the chance to play in the tournament as Soccer Australia could not afford to fund for its bigger overseas stars to play.
National team statistics
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